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Journals / Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 14 Sayı: 3

MODELING OF SEA WATER INTRUSION AND POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR GROUNDWATER USE: THE CASE OF THE TUNIS COTE ORIENTALE AQUIFER

DENİZ SUYU GİRİŞİMİNİN MODELLEMESİ VE YERALTI SUYU KULLANIMINA YÖNELİK OLASI SENARYOLAR: TUNUS COTE ORIENTALE AKİFERİ ÖRNEĞİ

Murat Kilit(Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi İnşaat Mühendisliği Bölümü)0000-0002-1912-6151
Ahmet Doğan0000-0001-9181-383X
Pages
840–867
Publication Date
2026-09-25
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings demonstrate that controlling total groundwater abstraction is more effective than well relocation alone and provide a basis for sustainable management of vulnerable semi-arid coastal aquifers.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The Cote-Orientale coastal aquifer in northeastern Tunisia, covering 430 km², is under increasing pressure from intensive groundwater abstraction for irrigation.
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Key Findings & Data:This study investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of seawater intrusion and evaluates management strategies using a coupled groundwater-flow and solute-transport model.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings demonstrate that controlling total groundwater abstraction is more effective than well relocation alone and provide a basis for sustainable management of vulnerable semi-arid coastal aquifers.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:2004 Verileri
⚙️Variables:SEAWAT · MODFLOW · Deniz Suyu Girişimi

Abstract

The Cote-Orientale coastal aquifer in northeastern Tunisia, covering 430 km², is under increasing pressure from intensive groundwater abstraction for irrigation. This study investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of seawater intrusion and evaluates management strategies using a coupled groundwater-flow and solute-transport model. A MODFLOW model was developed and calibrated under steady-state conditions using hydraulic-head, recharge, and abstraction data for 2004. A nine-layer SEAWAT model then simulated variable-density groundwater flow and salinity transport. Calibration produced root mean square error values of 2.98 m for hydraulic head and 2.54 g/L for total dissolved solids. The calibrated model indicated that seawater intrusion extends approximately 2–3 km inland and intensifies with depth, while upconing further increases salinity locally. Scenario simulations showed that increased abstraction accelerates the inland migration of the saline front, whereas reduced abstraction promotes its gradual long-term retreat. Relocating coastal wells farther inland without reducing total abstraction was ineffective. These findings demonstrate that controlling total groundwater abstraction is more effective than well relocation alone and provide a basis for sustainable management of vulnerable semi-arid coastal aquifers.

Özet

Kuzeydoğu Tunus’ta yer alan ve yaklaşık 430 km²’lik bir alanı kaplayan Cote-Orientale kıyı akiferi, sulama amaçlı yoğun yeraltı suyu çekimi nedeniyle giderek artan bir baskı altındadır. Bu çalışma, deniz suyu girişiminin mekânsal ve zamansal gelişimini incelemekte ve birleşik bir yeraltı suyu akımı ve çözünen madde taşınım modeli kullanarak yönetim stratejilerini değerlendirmektedir. MODFLOW modeli, 2004 yılına ait hidrolik yük, beslenim ve çekim verileri kullanılarak kararlı durum koşullarında geliştirilmiş ve kalibre edilmiştir. Daha sonra, değişken yoğunluklu yeraltı suyu akımı ile tuzluluk taşınımını benzetmek amacıyla dokuz katmanlı bir SEAWAT modeli uygulanmıştır. Kalibrasyon sonucunda hidrolik yük için 2.98 m, toplam çözünmüş madde için ise 2.54 g/L kök ortalama kare hata değerleri elde edilmiştir. Kalibre edilen model, deniz suyu girişiminin yaklaşık 2–3 km iç kesimlere ilerlediğini, daha derin akifer katmanlarında daha belirgin olduğunu ve yerel olarak tuzlu su yükselimiyle şiddetlendiğini göstermiştir. Senaryo analizleri, artan çekimin tuzlu su cephesinin ilerlemesini hızlandırdığını, azaltılan çekimin ise uzun vadede kademeli gerileme sağladığını ortaya koymuştur. Toplam çekim azaltılmadan kıyı kuyularının iç kesimlere taşınması etkisiz kalmıştır. Bulgular, toplam yeraltı suyu çekiminin kontrolünün sürdürülebilir yönetim açısından daha etkili olduğunu göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Kilit, M., Doğan, A. (2026). MODELING OF SEA WATER INTRUSION AND POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR GROUNDWATER USE: THE CASE OF THE TUNIS COTE ORIENTALE AQUIFER. Mühendislik Bilimleri ve Tasarım Dergisi, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 3, 840–867. https://doi.org/10.21923/jesd.1964597

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